Page 86 of Death God

Who was I?

I took a good look at myself: a dark, flaming skeleton pulsing with cold light. I wasn’t sure if there was anything like me, so I started to search for kin.

I surveyed the battlefield from midair, countless mortals and immortals staring up at me with awe and fear.

The scent of death hit my nostrils, and I threw my phantom head back and inhaled deeply.

I was death. I’d performed a service. It was done, and I no longer belonged here.

I should leave. But where should I go? Two worlds unfolded in front of me, one that the living occupied, and one where the dead resided.

I had to choose.

“Ophelia, love!” An urgent call floated toward me.

Was love a concept?

Then I heard so many beings shouting for Pip and Ophelia. It was getting annoying.

Who were Pip and Ophelia? Why did my heart clench for a second hearing the two names? A male voice, rich and velvety, reached for me urgently and insistently, like a sheepdog that would never let go of its bone.

I trained my gaze on him. I didn’t have eyes. I had only flames burning in my empty eye sockets. Yet I could see better than any other being.

“Pip Ophelia, you’re my mate,” the male said, his voice possessive. “You’re everything to me!”

Was that so?

He was gorgeous, with a perfect, powerful body built to kill and fuck. I knew about killing. But fuck? Did I know how? Why did that word pop into my head and stick there?

“You asked me if I love you, my Bride,” he said. “I haven’t given you the full account, and I owe you that. When I first found you, I thought you were damaged mentally beyond salvation, but I vowed to always take care of you. I knew that, no matter how broken you were, I’d do worse without you. It’s like sucking thousands of knives into my lungs every second you aren’t with me. Not in a million years did I expect to see the new you, braver than a lioness, brighter than a star, and as colorful as a rainbow. You grew into the woman I’ve always wanted and can be proud of, and you did it all by yourself. You became the little phoenix rising out of the ash. You humble me, and I’m in awe and in love. You’ve suffered more than any being because of me, yet you still gave me a second chance, even though you claimed that you still held a grudge. I’ll make myself worthy of you for the rest of my life. I love you more than anything, Sunshine. You’re my whole world, the light to my black soul, and the heaven I could never dream to have but possess now.”

Warmth turned to heat, seeping into me at the beautiful male’s confession. His words carried magic as they pounded into me, the magic from a deep bond between us, even when I was in this form.

I stared at his magnificent wings that arched over his broad shoulders. A fragment of knowledge came to me that he’d once cut them off, believing he deserved to be punished for wronging me. He’d never really wronged me. It was but an unfortunate circumstance.

A string of memories hit me like a whirlwind. Then pain, warmth, regret, joy, and love all swirled back. I started to feel again, and I felt profound feelings for the brave male in front of me as he touched my flaming form gently.

He shared his deepest memories with me, opening himself completely to me. His pain, regrets, grief, rage, madness, and his unconditional love for me seared my soul.

He meant every single one of his promises to me.

We’d once been star-crossed true mates, and we’d lost each other for a century. When he found me again, he became my anchor. That was what Dad had said my true mate was to me.

And now my mate was bringing me back to him. He’d destroy the world to have me. He feared losing me more than anything.

The true mating bond between us radiated like a small sun.

My gaze snagged his sapphire eyes that brimmed with adoration and love for me. I didn’t think I could resist him any longer.

“Sugar Cheeks?” I asked.

He sighed, still not happy with my endearment for him.

“Just come back to me, will you, Sunshine?” he said. “It’s not easy to talk to you when you’re made of flame.” He was polite enough not to say the flame of death. “I want to have you in my arms. I want to do a lot of things to you that will make you laugh and flush, but I can’t do them if you’re like that, can I?”

I regarded him intensely.

Maybe I could get back to him in another form. If things didn’t work out between him and me, or I eventually got bored, I could always become a flame again and leave for something more interesting.

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